Drier



E. R. ZADEMACH I DRIER Filed March 25, 1940 Nov. 23, 1943.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR. int/.7 ff Zaaemach Wm W Nov; 23, 1943.

E. R. ZADEMACH DRIER Filed March 25, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 [ht/z f2Zademac/r DRIER Filed March 25, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR, inc/'1fizafiemach BYWM ' Y ATTORNEYS Nov. 23, 1943. EUR ZADEMACH ,33

' DRIER v Filed March 25, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY 5 Nov; 23,1943.

E. R. ZADEMACH DRIER Filed March 25, 1940 e Sheet's-Sheei 5 III I!INVENTOR. inc/1 fi. Zad'ema'ch ATTORNEYS Nov. 23, 1943.

E. R. ZADEMACH DRIER 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 25, 1940 INVENTORfr/ch/EZade/mcfl ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 23, 1943 OFFICE DRIERErich-'13.. Zademach, Elizabeth, N. 1.. assignor, by mesne assignments,to Metalwash. Machinery Company, Newark, N. 3., a copartnershipApplication March 25,1940, Serial No. 825,845

' nozzle adjusting means with a nozzle support 12 Claims. This inventionrelates to driers which act to blow air upon wet articles carriedthrough a drying chamber by means of a conveyer.

Driers of the kind are generally used at different times 'for dryingarticles of diiierent sizes,

although the articles put through at a single run are generally all ofthe same size. It is desirable which permits a nozzle to yield upwardlyupon engagement with an article on the conveyer that the blowing nozzlesbe located as close to the articles on the conveyer as is practicablebecause the blastjrom a nozzle is strongest right atthe nozzle tip.v Itis an object of the present invention to provide a series of nozzleswhich may be adjusted so as to locate the nozzle tips at difierentdistances above the conveyer. Thus for small articles the nozzle tipswill be located at a low level to be near the articles, 'while forrelatively large articles the tips will be adjusted to a higher levelwhich is sufficiently high to clear the articles comfortably. I i

It is a further object of the invention to provide a common adjusting"means for adjusting all of the nozzles in unison. i

It is a further object to provide an exit gate or guard at the exit endof the machine which is also adjustablein unison with the nozzles.-

A further object of the invention is to dispose without affecting thefunctioning of the adjustingmeans. This is advantageously accomplishedby supporting the nozzle by gravity on the adjusting structure. Animproved nozzle-engaging arrangement has been developed.

An improved nozzle construction is disclosed' arranged to facilitate thetheoretically correct curvature of the outlet passage without forming aconvex external face or pocket on the feed side of the nozzle whichmight engage or retain articles 'on the conveyer.

A further feature is the provision of effective means for preventing theinflux of cold air through the discharge end of the drier whilepermitting free emergence of dried articles. This is in generalaccomplished by providing a curtain or sheet of hot air propelled acrossthe outlet and the path of the articles through said outlet. Theeffectiveness of this arrangement is enhanced by providing a movablecurtain at the discharge side of such air current, which advantageouslyextends across the entire width of the drier.

- Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.""

In the drawings forming part of this specification and illustrating apreferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a fragmentaryview in side elevation illustrating a drierunit;

of air throughopposed inlets into a large chamber formed withinthenozzle, so that the fio'w of air from all parts of the nozzle outlet isuniform.

Another feature is the provision of a simple and 4-4 ofFig.3;

' a nozzle. I

Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical sectional view, taken on the line 2-2of Figure-1,- and looking in the direction of the arrows Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 1 taken on line 3-3- of Fig. 5, showing a modifiedconstruction with.parts broken away and omitting the nozzle adjustingmechanism;

Fig. 4 is a horizont'al sectional view on line Fig. 5 is a verticaltransverse sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 3 looking toward the feedend; i

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2 takenon line 6-6 of Fig.3; and

Fig. '7 is a detail vertical sectional view through The.

sided sheet metal'plate I which forms the sides I through the chamberupon the upper or'active stretch of the belt 6.

A blower II mounted alongside the chamber I and below it,'is driven froma motor I2 through a belt I3. The blower delivers air into a heatingchamber ll which is located. above the blower adjustment is made topermit of the passage of articles ofdiflerent size and still'to permitof the impingement oFthe hot air flowing out of the nozzles on thearticles as near the mouths of the nozzles as possible.

The gate depends considerably below the 4 mouthofthe nozzle and is swungoutwardly by is bounded along its sides by steam coils I! which.

have radiating fins I3 formed or mounted upon them at frequentintervals. All the air delivered by the blower must pass out through onebank or the other of the heating pipes forming the steam coils. Aportion of the ,air escapes from the heating chamber it through loweropenings I3 to lower Jets 20 which are located in the drying chamberbetween the upper and lower stretches of the conveyer.

The principal feature of the present invention has to do with uppernozzles which the air from the heating chamber ll enters throughopenings 2I. A flanged bearing tube 22 is secured within the chamber Iin line with each opening IL,

shaped plate 26, each plate 26 including end.

arm 21 outside the lateral bounds of the nozzle which arms extenddownward. The end arms 21 at one side of the chamber are all pivotaliyconnectedto a longitudinally extending bar 23 and the end arms at theother side of the chamher are all pivotaliy connected toa longitudinalbar 23. The bars 23 and 23 extend to a point adjacent the introductoryend ofthe apparatus and are there connected to crank arms 33 which thearticles as they tumble ofl the belt 3 onto the delivery platform 53. i

In the present arrangementthe gate serves to minimize the amount of coldair that will enter the drying machine, and th arrangement is such thatsuch cold air becomes well intermingled with the hot air so that thearticles become uniformly treated.

It will be seen that in the present arrangement the first nozzle directsits hot air in the direction of the entrance to the drying machine andthe mouth of the nozzle at the exit end is disposed either at or aheadof the end of the belt 6. The result is that the articles are subjectedto the drying action throughout the length -of'travel of the articlesthrough the machine. When the exit nozzle is in its highest position Anozzle 24- are fast upon a shaft 3|. The shaft 3I also has fast upon ita gear 32. In the illustrative embodiment a loading platform 34 isprovided at the entrance end of the drying unit which stands a littleabove-the level of the conveyer 3. In the present form of the inventionthe nozzle 24 which is disposed near the exit end of the apparatus, isprovided on its back and near its mouth with a pair of brackets whichsupport the swinging exit gate 33.

The nozzles 24 are each so shaped that the hot air. is directed in adirection opposed to the travel of the articles being treated.

Adjustment of the nozzles and the exit gate in unison'is eflected byoperation of a hand or at some intermediate position, the hot airissuing from the mouth of the nozzle forms a curtain of hot air' throughwhich all the cold air entering the chamber must pass and becomeintermingled therewith. In this position the gate 33 serves as adeflector and causes the hot air to be deflected downwardly andinwardly.

e preceding description embodies the disclosure of the invention setforth in my prior application No. 198,344, relating to Swinging nozzles,

flledMarch 28, 1938, of which this application is a continuation inpart, and includes a substantial part of the disclosure of my Patent No.2,137,104,

also relating to Swinging nozzles, issued Novem-' means is locatedbeneath the drying chamber. I

instead of in chamber I4. It comprises a suitable open heater 42. whichmay consist of steam coils or the like through which the air may passfreely, located in an air heating chamber 43 communicating with theinlet to blower Ila. The

heated air discharged from said blower is con- 1 ducted to inlets atopposite ends of each upper nozzle 24a (Fig. 6), the air' entering alarge chamber 13 in the nozzle in opposed streams, ar-

. ranged to provide improved uniformity of distriwheel 35 located at theintroductory end of the apparatus. The hand wheel 35 is fast upon ashaft 33. The shaft 33 is journalled in bearings 31 and 33 carried,respectively, by brackets 39 and 43. The shaft 33 also has fast upon ita worm I which meshes with gear 32 and drives the gear to eil'ect thedesired adjustments.

The two dotted line positions of the nozzles indicate the two extremepositions of such nozzles. the gate and other associated devices. Suchbution and pressure of the drying air in the nozzle and correspondinglyimproved uniformity in the discharge of the air through all parts of theelongated nozzle outlet. In the illustrated embodiment this isaccomplished by connecting the discharge duct I0 of .blower Ila to theheating through which heated air is of upper nomles 24.

I The air in the drying chamber is advantageously recirculatedby-withdrawing it from the upper part of the chamber and returning it tothe heater 42 and blower I la; For this purpose air is withdrawn fromthe upper part of chamber I through recirculation duct 46 extendingdownwardly along the side of drying chamber l and passing throughmanifold l4, duct 46 having an inlet 4'! in the'upper part of a sidewall of chamber i and an inlet 48, adjacent the'upp r part of theopposite side wall of chamber l, in' the lower wall'of extension 46 ofduct 46 located in the upper part of chamber I. It has been foundadvantageous to separate the flow from inlets 4! and 48, as by providinga partition 61 extending downwardly for a substantial distance in duct46 from the bottom of the connecting end of extension 48, as shown inFig. 5, for the purpose tribution of air discharged through outlet 63may be improved by the use of suitable partition means such as curvedvertical partition 54.

While the lower nozzles or jets 280 are rectangular in cross section inthis embodiment, their general arrangement and function is substantiallythe same as. that set forth in connection with lower nozzles 20 in Figs.1 and 2.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 3-? an improved nozzle supportingand-adjusting construction is disclosed. The arrangement illustrated inthe above-mentioned patent and in Figs. 1 and 2 includes rigid adjustingconnections to the nozzles which prevent yielding of a nozzle whencoming in contact with articles or the conveyer 6. A construction hasbeen provided which permits the nozzles to yield under pressure fromarticles on said conveyer without affecting the elevation-adjustingsystem or changing the normal elevation of such yielding nozzle.

In this arrangement each upper nozzle 24a, is provided with a supportinglug 5t mounted on each end ll of the nozzle and arranged to bear againstan adjusting arm 5? fixed at its upper end to a support ring 69 which isrotatably fitted around tubes 22 and 23. In this arrangement each tube25 projects from the end H of nozzle 24a 8. sufficient distance to'permit the necessary endwise movement of the bearing ring 25:; inmounting or dismounting the nozzle, ring 26a being normally held inplace as by set-screws (not shown).

. Each arm 51 is arranged with its upper portion, which engages lug 56,in substantially vertical position when the associated nozzle is in itslowermost position, the lower portion of arm 61 2,884,854 fed theotherend upper position corresponding tolthatshown in dotted lines in,1; but if any one of said nozzles should come in contact with anarticle on conveyer 6 the nozzle will be freeto rise and clear thearticle, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. '7 thereafter dropping backinto the proper vertically adiusted position. g g

. In order to provide increased drying efllciency it is desirable thatthe upper nozzles 24d be arrangedqto deflect the air jet so that intheiruppermost position the jet will bev directed downwardly and inlower positions will be impelled toward the feed end of the drier. Forthis purpose the vdischarge passage in each nozzle should betaadjustment of upper nozzles 24a by longitudinal movement of bars 28and 29' with a minimum of vertical movement of said bars. In thisconstruction the longitudinal adjustment of bars 28 and 29 bymanipulation of hand wheel 35 will vary the elevation of the outlets ofupper nozzles 24 between the lower position shown in Fig. 3 and an pereddownwardly and curved in vertical section according to establishedengineering design. Where the nozzle is constructed of sheet metal thispassage contour producesa concavity at the feed side of the nozzle whichtends to catch and hold articles traveling along conveyer 6.

A simple nozzle construction employing sheet metal and eliminating thisfeature is shown in Figs. 6 and '7. W It comprises aflat front wall 68at the feed side, a rear-wall 59 having its lower portion curved towardwall 68, and a curved top wall 6i connecting the upper ends of walls 68and 59. The threevwalls 58, 59 and 6| may advantageously be formed froma singlesheet-of metal. The end marginsiof the wall are connected bysheet metal end plates H which abut bearing tubes 25. This constructionof upper nozzle 24a provides a relatively large internal chamber 18which facilitates the equalization of air flow and pressure before theair reaches the bottom outlet 14. I

A-flller 12, which is advantageously mad of similar sheet metal, ismounted on the walls of nozzle 24a, within the nozzle and adjacent thelower margins-thereof. Filler i2 is shaped to provide a convex innersurface having its upper and lower edges in contact with the inner faceof the front wall 58,-the lower margin of filler 72 being locatedadjacent the lower margin of rear wall 69 and forming therewith outlethi from a the nozzle. 7

An improved arrangement for obstructing the influx of air to the dryingchamber i through the discharge opening is disclosed. It includes meansfor directing a curtain or sheet of air across the outlet to the drier,and in the illustrated embodiment comprises upper and lower dischargenozzles 62 each extending across chamher I and fixed at its ends to theside walls of the chamber, with one end communicating through an openingin a chamber wall with manifold I4. Each nozzle 62 is provided with anoutlet 63 extending substantially across drying chamber I and directedacross the discharge opening in the end of said chamber, the arrangementbeing such that the currents of air from outlets 63 meet and form asheet ,or blanket of warm air extending substantially across the entirearea of said opening, presenting an effective obstruction coarse wiremesh it will permit an adequate flow of air ifor the purpose indicated.

The operation of the air curtain from nozzles 62 is advantageouslyassisted and supplemented by employing an auxiliary curtain 64 which islower margins of nozzles 24a.

movable to permit discharge of articles, and in the preferred form isvertically adjustable. in conformity with the adjustment of nozzles 24a.An arrangement of this type is shown in which transverse shaft 66journaled at its ends on the sides of drying chamber I carries a metalsheet or curtain section 08 fixed thereto and extending substantiallyacross the width of the chamber i. A yleldable skirt 61, which mayconsist of hinged metal or fabric sections, is attached to and extendsdownwardly from the lower edge of curtain section 68 to any desiredelevation above conveyer 6 with relation to the corresponding elevationof the lower ends of nozzles 24a. The longitudinal adjusting bars 28 and29 are pivotally connected to adjusting arms 68 fixed to shaft 8!,thearrangement being such that the adjustment of nozzles 24a by shiftingbars 28 and 29 will corre-. spondinglyrotate shaft 65 and swing thecurtain section 68 upwardly, raising to a corresponding extent the skirt8? and providing at all times an accurate register between the verticalposition of the lower margin of curtain 64 and that of the A feature ofthe invention is the provision of an arrangement whereby. the nozzlesmay be set at various heights, this feature being referred to in certainof the claims as a locking construction;

but attention is directed to-the fact that such locking does notpreclude the nozzles from yielding upwardly when engaged by an articleon the conveyor, and thereafter dropping back to locked I position.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of myinvention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodimentsshown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in theappended claims. I claim:

1. In a drier, the combination with a drying chamber and a conveyorrunning therein, of a series of nozzles disposed over the conveyor, eachnozzles in unison from the lowest to the highest position while themouth of each nozzle is directed towards the conveyonzthe nozzle nearestthe exit carrying near its mouth a pair of brackets and an exit guardpivotally mounted on said brackets whereby the exit nozzle and the guardserve as a substantial closure for the exit end of the chamber.

4. In a drier, the combination of a drying chamber having entrance andoutlet openings, a conveyor passing through the chamber and saidopenings, and means for directing a current of warm air onto saidconveyor including a nozzle adapted to be oscillated in the outletopening and an exit gate swingably carried by said'nozzl and adapted tobe engaged by an article leaving the conveyor.

'5. The combination as set forth in claim 4, in which the exit gate isarranged to deflect the current of air discharged by aid nozzle towardsthe, end portion of the conveyor upon the adjustment of the nozzletowards its topmost position.

6. In a' drier, the combination with a drying chamber and a conveyorrunning therein, of a nozzle disposed over the conveyor, said nozzlebeing pivotally mounted and capable of assuming any position between twoextreme positions for varying the distance between the mouth of thenozzle and the conveyor, the mouth of the nozzle being directeddownwardly towards the conveyor and towards the entrance and of thechamber when in the lowest position, and being directed downwardlytowards the conveyor and towards of said nozzles being pivotally mountedand capathe exit carrying near its mouth a pair of brackets and an exitguard pivotally mounted on said brackets whereby the exit nozzle and theguard serve as a closure-for the exit end of the chamber.

2. In a drier, the combination with a drying chamber and a conveyorrunning therein, of a series of nozzles disposed over the conveyor, eachof said nozzles being pivotally mounted and capable of assuming anyposition between two extreme positions for varying the distance betweenthe mouth of th nozzle and the conveyor, the nozzle nearest the exitcarrying near its mouth a pair of brackets and an exit guard pivotallymounted on said brackets whereby the exit nozzle and the uard serve as aclosurefor the exit end of the chamber.

3. In a drier, the combination with a dryin chamber and a conveyorrunning therein, of a series of nozzles disposed over the conveyor, eachof said nozzles being pivotally mounted and capable of assuming anyposition between two xtreme by articles supported on the conveyor meansfor looking I the nozzle in predetermined position against downwardpivotal movement while permitting said oscillating movement, and meansfor vertically adjusting said position.

8. In a drier, the combination 'as set forth in claim 7, in which thenozzle locking means includes a member upon which the nozzle is freelysupported by gravity.

9. In a drier, the combination of a drying chamber, a conveyor passingthrough the chamber, a nozzle for directing a current of air onto saidconveyor, meansfor yieldably supporting said nozzle foroscillating-movement .when contacted by articles supported on theconveyor and means for vertically adjusting the position of the nozzleabove the path of material on the conveyor, the nozzle beinggravitationally seated in engagement with the adjusting means ,to permitsaid oscillating movement.

10. In a drier, the combination of a drying chamber, a conveyor passingthrough the chamber, and means for directing a current of warm air ontothe conveyor, including a nozzle extending transversely across theconveyor, air heating and propelling means located beneath the dryingchamber, means including a flat duct forming part of the. side wall ofthe chamber extending from the heating and propelling means andconnected to the nozzle through inlets at opposite sides of the chamber,and means including a flat ductforming a part of the side wall of thedrying chamber having inlet connections with the upper part of thedrying chamber and a discharge outlet communicating with the heating andpropel- Jing means.

' path of the conveyor, and a movable curtain extending across saidopening at the drier discharge side of said obstructing current of air.

12. In a drier, the combination of a drying chamber having a dischargeopening, a conveyor in said chamber and arranged to 'propel materialthrough the opening, a nozzle system for directing a current of dryingair onto the conveyor, means for vertically adjusting said nozzlesystem, means for withdrawing air from the chamber, and means forobstructing the entrance of air into the chamber through said openingcomprising means for propelling a current of drying air across saidopening in a sheet substantiaily normal to the path of the conveyor, 8.curta ln at the drier discharge side of said obstructing current of air,said curtain being vertically adjustable by said adjusting means.

ERICH R. ZADEMACH.

